So I'm really interested in getting a long-term pair of headphones after a depressing line of Apple earbuds, $5 Big-Lots in-ear headphones, a pair of bottom-line Koss buds, 2 pairs of Ink'd buds, a pair of iFrogz Ozone w/ mic buds, and probably a couple of other pairs of headphones that I've forgotten, I'm getting tired of throwing away my money, and I have developed a minor hatred for in ear headphones.

Ideally I would like (ranked by importance on a scale of 1-10, 1 being more important & 10 being less important)

1.DURABLE

2.Portable

3.Comfortable (I don't have a weird shaped head or anything)

3.Good sound for both metal/dubstep* and gaming

4.Compatible with Xbox/PC (thoughts on adapters?)

4.Gaming/general purpose mic (detachable or stowable)

4.Somewhat isolating (so probably closed headphones)

5.Possible use with a mobile amp (thoughts?)

7.Aesthetics (i know its kinda superficial)

*I also listen to a variety of other genres including soundtrack, spoken word (podcasts, youtube vids, etc.), a tiny bit of bluegrass (stuff like Nickle Creek and Mark Kroos), and a healthy dose of alt and punk, but NOT including rap, pop, or hip-hop. I listed metal and dubstep both because they represent the majority of what I listen to and because I'm believe they would be the most technically demanding of my audio intake.

I'm really looking for some general feedback on what price range I would be looking at (I don't have a lot of cash but I'm looking into getting a job soon), or if headphones fitting this description even exist. Should I try to get an all in on deal, or should I get some durable headphones for on the go and some better sounding but possibly less sturdy headphones at home? I don't know much at all about sound cards so if its relevant any info on that subject would be appreciated as well.

Thanks again!

The Sennheiser Amperior is the only thing that comes to mind. Highly durable (although the plastic headbands may feel a bit flimsy), portable, easy to drive, stellar sound quality with good bass response, pretty comfortable microvelour padding (more so than the dt1350 and es10), good isolation, comes with an in-line mic, all parts of the headphones are detachable/replaceable, blue aluminum cups certainly don't look bad, and scales well with portable amps. Only problem is that it costs... $350. You can find refurbished ones for $170 or less, however.

Weird choice I know, but let me explain. Initially I was going to go for the Sennheisers. Reviews were decent and when I tried a pair in store they were comfortable and sounded crisp. But the price put me off. For desk listening and the occasional long journey, £259 just seemed like a lot.

That's where they Beyers came in. They get glowing praise online and people comment on their comfort, soundstage and bass response. <<Those three things are key. I want headphones that let instrumentals shine but can be aggressive (but not overbearing) when the mood strikes.

Then last week I was given a gift voucher from work to spend in John Lewis who happen to have the Momentums. It knocks their price down to what I'd pay for the Beyers from Amazon.

Weird choice I know, but let me explain. Initially I was going to go for the Sennheisers. Reviews were decent and when I tried a pair in store they were comfortable and sounded crisp. But the price put me off. For desk listening and the occasional long journey, £259 just seemed like a lot.

That's where they Beyers came in. They get glowing praise online and people comment on their comfort, soundstage and bass response. <<Those three things are key. I want headphones that let instrumentals shine but can be aggressive (but not overbearing) when the mood strikes.

Then last week I was given a gift voucher from work to spend in John Lewis who happen to have the Momentums. It knocks their price down to what I'd pay for the Beyers from Amazon.

Bit of background:

-Music collection either FLAC or Apple Lossless or 320kbps.
-Will be listening through my laptop or iPhone.
-I don't have a headphone amp.

Any help much appreciated!

Get the momentums, theyre iphone friendly and puts your gift card to good use.

What's the best over the ear, full size noise cancelling headphones for someone who travels a lot? My budget is like $300 and I don't need an amp i don't think. I've got the iPhone 4, and an iPad mini and a Mac (everything is Apple).

I'm looking for a quality pair of headphones for $250. It can be open or closed, and I want a very balanced sound. I can buy an amp/dac combo, such as the FiiO E17, but prefer not to. I will mainly be using them for rock and the occasional hip hop and dubstep. What are the best options for my needs? Any input is greatly appreciated.

I don't know much about your current JVC cans, but I really don't see how the AD700 would be a downgrade from them. That's really dependent on what kind of signature you want. It is true the AD700 lacks low end and they won't shine on music that is bass heavy, but they are still widely considered to be the gateway drug into the audiophile world for a reason. I don't know enough about the Superlux to speak to those.

+1 on the AD700. I own the Samson SR850 also and find the AD700 to be a more musical can, with very good natural (as in concert-hall realistic) balance.

What's the best over the ear, full size noise cancelling headphones for someone who travels a lot? My budget is like $300 and I don't need an amp i don't think. I've got the iPhone 4, and an iPad mini and a Mac (everything is Apple).